The Benefits Of Converting A Commercial Roof To Green Space

For many types of commercial properties with flat roofs, access to that roof has been customarily restricted to some type of maintenance activity, such as heating or cooling system repairs, inspections for leaks/storm damage, or snow and ice removal. However, there seems to be a growing trend toward utilizing this flat space more effectively and more creatively – by converting some or all of the available area into green roof.

Green roofing is akin to a rooftop garden, and it encompasses vegetation planted in a growing material that is layered on a waterproof membrane. If the green roofing will be park-like in nature, i.e.: easily accessible to employees, guests, or occupants of the commercial property, it might also be constructed with an extra sub-layer specifically intended to aid with water drainage.

There are several economic and environmental benefits that can be realized by adapting flat roofs into green space, including:

A testament to the overall value of green roofing can be seen in an action taken by the City of Toronto a few years ago. In January 2010, the city enacted a by-law mandating the incorporation of green roofs on any new structures with a floor area of 2000 square meters or more. With a few exceptions, the roof space that must be dedicated to green roofing ranges from 20% to 60% based on the overall size of the building, and includes the following types of structures:

Commercial properties

Institutional facilities

Residential (greater than five stories)

Industrial buildings

More recently, the city extended its green roofing initiative through an incentive for the creation of green space within flat roofs not affected by/subject to the original by-law.

Through this extension, green roofing projects for commercial buildings and the other types of identified structures may be eligible for funding of $75.00 per square meter, up to a maximum benefit of $100,000.

Whether mandated or by choice, implementation of green roofing is a more elaborate process than might be foreseen, especially for commercial properties that need or want to maintain normal operations during the construction period. For this reason, property owners/managers would be well-served by experts in both flat roofing and installation of green roofs, such as the team from Avenue Road Roofing.

When the decision is made to convert flat roofs into green roofing, there are many factors that need to be considered in addition to the ultimate look of that new green space. Our roofing contractors can provide valuable insight on the design of the roof and expert workmanship in its construction.

The specific services offered by Avenue Road Roofing can include:

Engineering

Determining the appropriate percentage of green roofing

Assessing/addressing structural (weight) capacity

Assessing/addressing state of the existing roof materials

Construction

Removal of the current roof

Installation of waterproof membrane/new roof material

Incorporation of an adequate drainage system

Safety considerations/precautions (during normal operations)

Rooftop lighting and other options

Rooftop lighting and other options

If you are interested in converting your flat roofing into green space and potentially taking advantage of Toronto’s associated incentive plan, call the experts at Avenue Road Roofing today at 416-785-5129 to learn more about the benefits and the process of installing these types of roofs.

Summary

Article Name

The Benefits Of Converting A Commercial Roof To Green Space

Description

For many types of commercial properties with flat roofs, access to that roof has been customarily restricted to some type of maintenance activity, such as heating or cooling system repairs, inspections for leaks/storm damage, or snow and ice removal. However, there seems to be a growing trend toward utilizing this flat space more effectively and more creatively – by converting some or all of the available area into green roofing.